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Speed, Pitch, and Timing Errors in Tape Recording and Reproducing

Because tape is a plastic medium driven by a capstan in a complicated rolling process, an accurate specification of -tape speed- is not simple. However, even a complete specification of -tape speed- alone is not adequate to specify the pitch and timing error because changes of the recorded wavelength due to tape length changes cause additional independent timing and pitch errors of up to 1.0%. These are comparable to the NAB -tape speed- alone is not adequate to specify the pitch and timing error because changes of the recorded wavelength due to tape length changes cause additional independent timing and pitch errors of up to 1.0%. These are comparable to the NAB -tape speed- tolerance of ±0.2%. Measurement techniques are also reviewed.

Author: McKnight, John G.
Affiliation: Ampex Consumer and Educational Products Division, Los Gatos, CA
AES Convention:33 (October 1967) Paper Number:555 Import into BibTeX

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